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The Clouds Beneath the Sun (Hardcover)

Description

An exotic setting and a passionate, forbidden affair make The Clouds Beneath the Sun an irresistible page-turner that is sure to satisfy readers looking for an intelligent blend of history, romance, and intrigue.

Mackenzie Ford (a nom de plume) was introduced to readers in 2009 with the publication of Gifts of War, which was praised in USA Today as “an absorbing, morally complex read.” In a starred review, Library Journal said, “Ford keeps the reader on a knife’s edge as the lies build and the truth is only a word or misstep away. Highly recommended.”

Now Ford takes us to Kenya in 1961. As a small plane carrying Natalie Nelson lands at a remote airstrip in the Serengeti, Natalie knows she’s run just about as far as she can from home. Trained as an archeologist, she accepted an invitation to be included in a famous excavating team, her first opportunity to escape England and the painful memories of her past.

But before she can get her bearings, the dig is surrounded by controversy involving the local Masai people—and murder. Compounding the tension, Eleanor Deacon, friend of the Masai, who is leading the excavating mission, watches a rift grow between her two handsome sons. Natalie’s growing attrac­tion to Jack Deacon soon becomes a passionate affair that turns dangerous when she must give evidence in a trial that could spark even more violence and turmoil.

The startling beauty of the Kenyan setting, the tension of loom­ing social upheaval, and the dizzying highs and crushing lows of a doomed love affair are all captured brilliantly on every page of this extraordinary and utterly unforgettable novel.

Praise For…

"Ford has a talent for storytelling . . . One of 2010's best novels so far."—San Antonio Express-News

"Set against the beautiful backdrop of the African desert, The Clouds Beneath the Sun skillfully blends historical facts, mystery and romance to create a novel that is both interesting and intellectual . . . Fast-paced and full of rich characters . . . a stimulating read."—The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

"A fascinating, morally ambiguous novel that juxtaposes the ambitions of the scientific community of outsiders against the sensitivities of the native cultures whose riches they unearth. Cinematic descriptions of the land and its people imply an intimate knowledge of the African continent: readers will hear and smell the giraffe, antelope, leopards, and elephants that roam the plain . . . Highly recommended."—Library Journal, Starred Review

"If you like your romance and intrigue with a dash of history and academia, this novel is the book for you!"—Booklist

Praise for Gifts of War

“An absorbing, morally complex read.”—USA Today

“Ford keeps the reader on a knife’s edge as the lies build and the truth is only a word or misstep away. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Ford combines the intrigue and tension of military intelligence with an affecting portrayal of a challenging love affair . . . [Gifts of War] succeeds on many levels.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune